Mining machine



E; H. STEIN MINING MACHINE July '19, 1938.

Filed Dec. 11, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l E. H. STEIN 2,124,319 MINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11, 1935 I s Sheets-Sheet 3 July 1.9, 1938.

, //VVENTOQT EDWARD H. STEIN,

Arr'r.

wfi m 1 w 1 4 A n 1/ 1 ax w; .imF M1 NN I 1 l: 8 @N m3 0 #m m? .5 1 W 5 7f. N8 Na Tm 3 g a a 9M Mm Patented July 19, 1938 jEdward -H -stein,-Columbus, 0hio, as sign or to The .Jeffrey..Manufacturing Company, a cornotation of Ohio Application December 11, 1935,-Serial No. 53,951

19 Claims. (01. 74-425) My invention relates to an-improved mining machine and more particularlyto a novelygear train including aworm gearand driving' wormp Ari-object of the invention-is toprovide-a gear ..:train-including a worm and worm gear in which means are provided to perm-it :read-y disengagement of the worm and worm gear without-moving the shaft on which either is mounted.

A-more specific object of the invention is to sprovide-a novel gear train between a motor and a drum, in a mining machine, which gear train includes a worm and worm gear and some type of clutch mechanism, in which means, includinga tapered roller bearing, is provided for :mounting the worm gear loosely-on a driven shaft and which provides for ready removal of the worm gear without disturbing the worm or the driven shaft.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the mining machine embodying my improvement;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the mining machine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 isan enlarged plan View with certain partsremoved and others shown in section of the haulage or front end of the machine shown at .the left-hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 44of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Fig. '5 is a sectional elevational view taken on .the line 5--'5 of Fig. 3, looking in'thedirection of the arrows, with certain parts removed and with the worm gear in position to be readily removed. This invention relates 'to improvements .in the mining machine disclosed in the application :of Robert K. Jeffrey and Lewis E.-Mitchell-,' Serial N0.'716,1'60 filed March 1'7, 1934,6116.- in the application of Lewis E. Mitchell, Serial :No. 716,660, filed March 21, 1934.

"Referring particularlyto Figs. 1 and 2, it will be "seen that the supporting frame of the mining machine comprises anintermediate motor section lfl', a frontfeeding and hauling section II, and a rear cutting section l2. These sections are detachably-connected together by means of machihescreWs l3, l3,,as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The detailed construction of the mining 'machine is disclosed more fully in each of the abovementioned' applications and reference is made thereto for those structural elements not described in detail in this application and. which rality of clutchdiscs 24 adapted to rotate there l6, respectively, whereby upon movement of "the are not particularly-concerned with the invention here involved.

It may bestated; however, that the machine carries a kerf cutting mechanism f4 which is attached to a rotatable head =|5 carried by the rearcutting section -l-2-thereof for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. It is thus possible to employ the machine to perform either a longwall or a Shortwall cutting operation.

The feeding or hauling-section ll is provided vwith a pair of winding-drums l6 and I1 which are preferably geared together to rotate in reverseadirections. The winding drum I! is so geared to the Winding-drum i6 that it tends to rotate at a slightly higher speed and is employed in many operations as a safety drum. The two drums '16 and I! are mounted respectively on vertical shafts l-8 and'l9 and are adapted to be driven by a pair'of largeintermeshing gears one-of-whichis seen at 20in Fig.4. A pair of 20' friction clutches are-also provided for effecting a driving connection'between said large gears and the 'respective :dr'ums +6 --and H. These clutches are sub-stantially of the same construction and one of them is seen at 2| in Fig. 4.

Briefly described, this-clutch 2| comprises a quill -22 which-is keyed to the hub-of the gear 20 to rotatectherewith. The quill 22 carries a cylindrical drum '23 which in turn carries a'pluwith. The drum l6 also carries -a plurality of clutch discs 25 adapted to interweave with the clutch discs 24. Appropriate bearing plates 26 and 21 are carried. by the quill 22 and the drum two bearing plates 26, '21 toward each other, the clutch discs 24,25 will be brought into friction engagement and transfer rotary movement of the quill 22- to the drum *l6.

It is to be noted that thedrum 1Y6 is mounted for vertical sliding movement on an'appropria'te journal bearing 28 which surrounds the quill"22,

- and a stationary handwheel 29"is..adapted to be 'Itwill-beevident-that=by--rotation of the hand- 5 motor section II].

wheel 29, an upward or downward movement of the drum |6 would be effected thereby, to effect an engagement or disengagement of the clutch and provide an engagement or disengagement between the gear 20 and the drum I6. An appropriate anti-friction bearing 32 is provided to maintain the quill 22 against upward movement.

The drums I6 and I1 are provided with cables 33 and 34, respectively, adapted to be reeved about pulleys I6 and I1 and to extend from the mining machine to perform any one of numerous mining operations, examples of which are disclosed more in detail in each of the above mentioned applications.

Power is supplied to the drums l6 and I1 from the motor carried by the motor section II] through a gear train which will now be described in detail and which gear train includes the features of novelty comprising my invention.

As best seen in Figs. 3, .4 and 5, a motor armature shaft 35 extends rearwardly from the motor section I0 into the feeding or hauling section H and is mounted upon an appropriate anti-friction bearing 36 as it emerges from said 7 extends into a totally enclosed housing 36 form- .ing a part of the feeding or hauling section H,

which housing is provided with a removable top the spaced anti-friction bearings 42 and 43.

39 (see Fig. 4) removably attached thereto by screws 40 (Fig. 1). Within the housing 38 there is provided a vertical shaft 4| which is mounted in said housing 38 for free rotation by Anti-friction bearing 43 is carried in a removable cup 44 provided with threaded apertures 45 adapted to facilitate removal thereof, and carried on a plate 46 forming a false bottom for the housing 38, which plate 46 is provided with a bearing ring 41 to support said cup 44. A grease seal 48 is also provided adjacent the bottom of the cup 44 to prevent a loss of grease from the bearing 43.

Thebearing 42 is carried within a cup 49 rigidly attached to the top 39 of the housing 38. A removable cap and grease seal 56 is provided for the bearing 42, which cap may be readily removed by the removal of retaining screws 5!. A false cover plate 52 may also be provided over the top 39 and there retained by screws 53 (Fig. 1) to provide a substantially flush top for the housing 38.

A retaining washer 54 is attached to the upper end of theshaft 4| by a screw 55 to support said shaft 4! through the bearing 42. It will thus be seenthat the shaft 4| is mounted for free rotation within the housing 38. As is best seen from Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, there is mounted upon the shaft 4| for free rotation with respect thereto, the worm gear 56 having the standardconcave face which is adapted to mesh with the worm 31. In the claims a concave face worm gear includes this standard type as well as the hobbed straight face which has a concave tooth root. The internal diameter of the worm gear 56 is adapted to receive with a tight fit the outer cone 51 of a tapered roller bearing 58, the rollers 59 of which are adapted to be retained in a cage ring 60 which with the inner cone 51 of the roller bearing 58 are retained upon the shaft 4| when the worm gear 56 is removed. This is best illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

It is to be noted that the roller bearing 53 is Said armature shaft 35 com tary movement to the shaft 4|.

so positioned with respect to the axis of rotation of the worm 53 that said roller bearing lies in a plane passing through said axis of rotation. This arrangement of parts is preferred for it provides a uniform transfer of the load from the worm 31 to the rollers 59. This positioning of the roller bearing also permits the ready removal of the worm gear 56 from the shaft 4| by permitting a disengagement of the teeth thereof with the teeth of the worm 31 without requiring a removal of the worm 31 or the shaft 4|. This capability is of extreme practical importance for in the operation of mining machines it is often necessary to gain access to the lower portion of the housing 38 to remove any broken or worn parts or to renew the worm gear 56. In theabsence of some ready means for removing the worm gear 56 without disturbing the shaft 4|, it is an extremely difficult operation to gain access to the lower portion of said housing 38 and generally requires thedisengagement of the two sections l0 and II of the machine, each of which often weighs near 2,000 pounds, which is an exceedingly difficult operation to perform particularly while the mining machine is adjacent the working face in a mine room.

By employing the tapering characteristic of a tapered roller bearing, I am able to employ this bearing not only for its usual function of providing an anti-friction bearing between the worm gear 56 and the shaft 4|, but I also employ it as a means to permit the ready disengagement of the worm gear 56 and the worm 31. The particular method of this disengagement will be described more in detail hereinafter.

Reverting to a consideration of the elements of the gear train, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, there is provided a cam or eccentric 65 which is rigidly bolted to and above the worm gear 56 by three spaced bolts, one of which is seen at 62 in Fig. 4. The bolts 62 also engage a ring 63 which carries the jaws of a jaw clutch. In addition, the ring 63 is rigidly attached to the worm gear 56 by a plurality of bolts, one of which is seen at 63 in Figs. 4 and 5.

A second anti-friction tapered roller bearing 64 is provided between the cam 6| and the shaft 4|. A spacer ring 65 is mounted very loosely on the shaft 4| and provides proper spacing means for the roller bearings 58 and 64. The cam 6| is also provided with a pair of diametrically disposed threaded holes similar to the threaded holes 45 in cup 44 which provide for a ready removal of the cam 6| after the bolts 62 are removed. It will be evident that removal of the cam 6| will also carry with it the roller bearing 64 including both the inner and outer races thereof. Positioned above the cam 6| and keyed rigid to the shaft 4| by key 661s a ratchet wheel 61 which when rotatedis adapted to impart ro- Rotary movement-to said shaft 4| is imparted through the ratchet wheel 61 when a relatively slow speed for the drums l6 and I1 is desired, as for example, when performing a kerf-cutting operation.

A pawl carrier 68 is provided which carries a spring pressed pawl 69 (Fig. 3) adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 61. A retaining pawl 10 is provided to prevent reverse movement of the ratchet wheel 61. For oscillating the .pawlcarrier 68 there is provided a lever 1| pivoted at 12 to a stationary shaft. The lever 1| carries a roller 12 adapted to roll on the cam 6| and through said cam 6| to impart oscillatory movement to said. lever 1| regardless of the difromthe shaft 4|.

s rge-3 19 rection of rotation of :the shaft 35. An .adjustable linkage mechanism 13 isprovided for connecting the lever {ll andthe pawl carrier -68. An adiustin m ans 41 p ov d d fo adjustin the extent of irotation' of the shaft 4| under the influence ,ofthe ratchet wheelifi'l -upon each oscillation of lthelever FH Byadjustment of the :handle 15,;of ,saidzadiusting mechanism 14, the ratchet wheel :65! may be adjusted to rotate through an angleporresponding to any desired. number of teethrthereof from,:zero to the .maximum limit provided byzthe lever z'H ,suchas five teeth.

ltissevident.thatbyxvirtue ofthe elements pre- This means comprises a jaw clutch including a plate 1B-splined to-the lower portion of the. shaft 4| to rotate therewith and carrying jaws H which are tapered on one side whereby upon engagement of the jaws'carried by the ring 63 and said jaws 11,rota'tion of the wormgear 56 will be transferred directly'to the shaft 4| if in the proper direction as permitted by the retaining pawl 10 of the pawl and'ratchet mechanism. If an attempt is made to rotate the shaft 4| in a direction not permitted by'the retaining pawl 10, the tapered faces of the jaws 11 will-permit the worm gear 56 to rotate without imparting rotation of the plate l6,by the slipping of the jaws on ring 63.

Appropriate means including a split ring 18 which is operatively controlled from an operatinghandle'lS (Fig. 3) is provided for adjusting the, position of the jaw clutch including the ring 63 and the plate 16.

The rotary movement of the shaft 4| either at high speed or at low speed will be transmitted tojthe gear 20 through the intermediary of an idlergear to which meshes with said gear at and with a pinion 8| which may be formed integral with the lower end of the shaft 4|.

.Attentionjs particularly directed to Figs. 4. and 5 and to the method of disassembling the parts whereby the worm gear 56 may be readily removed without the removal of the worm .31 or the shaft 4| and without requiring any disengagement of the two sections In and I l.

Assuming the parts to be first as in the positionaillustrated in Fig. 4, the method of disassembly will now be described. The screws 5| will first be removed and the cap 50 removed. Plate 52 will thenbe removed after which screws 4|! .1 )v .are removed. Screw 55 may then be removed after which thewasher 54 will be removed to permit free removal of the bearing 42 The top plate 39 will then be lifted. upward and will carry with it the roller bearing 42 removing it from the shaft 4|. The pawl carrier 68 may then be readily removed in obvious manner. The ratchet wheel 67 may then be removed from shaft 4| by the insertion of screws intothreaded holes 82 to which screws may beattached a gear remover of a type well known in the art, which presses against the shaft 4| while pulling upwardly onthe ratchet wheel 61.

*Similar gear. removingmeans may then be emreadily removed by hand as it does nothaye a tight fit with the shaft 4|.

After having removed all of the aforementioned parts, it is easy for an operator to stick his hands into the housing 38 andto grasp the worm wheel 56 on each-side of the worm 3-1. The worm wheel 56 may thus be tilted about an axis passing through the axis of rotation of the worm 31 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. When in this position it is evident that the worm gear 56 may move laterally of the shaft 4| or to the right of the position illustrated in Fig. 5. This is provided by virtue of the clearance between the rollers 59 and the ring 63, whichclearance results by virtue of the tapered rollers 59 as well as bythe tapered inner cone 51 and taperedsurface 83 of the ring 63 which is substantially a continuapartially disengage the worm and worm-gear and I will permit additional tilting of the worm gear with consequent additional lateral movement thereof provided. By repeating this action, the worm gear 56 maybe easily.,disengaged from the worm 3'1 and when once disengaged may, of course, be readily removed from the gear housing 38. be renewed, as it is of bronze andt-thus has a relatively short life as compared with the steel worm 31', or ready access to :the lower portion of the housing 38 is provided whereby any ,parts therein may be easily removed or any foreign matter may be removed.

As was above described, the roller bearing .58

ispreferably so; positioned-as to lie approximately in a planepassing through the axis of rotation of the worm 31. In this position the load on the worm gear 56 is distributed evenly over the rollers Having removedthe worm gear '56 it.may

53 which insures a proper mesh between ,the

worm 3'! and worm gear 56. It will belevident that in proper mesh,.the curvature of the teeth of worm gear 55 and worm 3! prevent their disengagement bya vertical movement of ,said worm- -gear 56. However, the construction ofmy in-.

vention permits their disengagement without moving the shaft 4 or the-worm 31.

It is believed evident that ,due :to the novel arrangement of the parts of the gear train and.

worm or worm gear not readily accessible without removal of the worm gear or to the renewal of the worm or worm gear.

The term Shortwall used herein is the trademark of The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio, the assignee of this application, said trade-mark having been registered October 31, 1911, in Class .23, Cutlery, machinery, and tools, and parts thereof, registration No. 84,006, and renewed June 9, 1931.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit'and scope of the invention asdefined by :theclaims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a mining machine, the combination with a motor having an armature shaft extending therefrom, of feeding mechanism comprising, a

{} worm on said armature shaft, a worm gear meshing with said worm, a second shaft for supporting said worm gear, a tapered roller bearing positioned between said second shaft and said worm gear in a position where a plane passing through. the rollers thereof will also pass through the axis of rotation of said worm, and means for effecting a driving connection between said worm gear and said second shaft.

2. In a mining machine, the combination with a motor having an armature shaft extending therefrom, of feeding mechanism comprising, a worm on said armature shaft, a worm gear meshing with said worm, a second shaft for supporting said worm gear, a tapered roller bearing positioned between said second shaft and said worm gear, and means for effecting a driving connection between said worm gear and said second shaft, said above described elements being so constructed and arranged as to provide for {m -the removal of said worm gear while said worm and said shafts remain in place.

3. In a mining machine, the combination with a motor having a drive shaft connected thereto, of driving mechanism therefor, comprising a 35'- worm on said drive shaft, a worm gear meshing with said worm, a driven shaft for said worm gear, and means adapted to permit disengagement of said worm gear and said worm while both said worm and said driven shaft remain in (m -their normal operating positions, said means comprising a tapered bearing positioned between said worm gear and said driven shaft and lying in a plane passing through the axis of rotation of said worm.

4. In a mining machine, the combination with a motor having a drive shaft connected thereto, of a gear train therefor, comprising a worm on said drive shaft, a worm gear meshing with said worm, a driven shaft for said worm gear, and

means adapted to permit disengagement of said worm gear and said worm while said worm driving shaft and driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions, said means comprising a tapered roller bearing positioned between said worm gear and said driven shaft.

5. In a gear train, the combination with a driving shaft, of a driven shaft, a worm on said driving shaft, a worm gear on said driven shaft,

and means adapted to permit disengagement of said worm and worm gear by removal of said worm gear while said worm driving shaft and driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions, said means comprising a tapered roll- ,,er bearing positioned between said worm gear and said driven shaft and lying in a plane passing through the axis of rotation of said worm.

6. In a gear train, the combination with a driving shaft, of a driven shaft, a worm on said 7 .driving shaft, a worm gear on said driven shaft, and means adapted to permit disengagement of said worm and worm gear by removal of said worm gear while both said driving shaft and said driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions, said means comprising a tapered roller bearing positioned between said worm gear and said driven shaft.

'7. In a gear train, the combination with a driving shaft, of a driven shaft, a worm on said driving shaft, a worm gear on said'driven shaft, and means adapted to permit disengagement of said worm and worm gear by removal of said worm gear While both said driving shaft and said driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions, said means comprising a pair of spaced roller bearings for mounting said worm gear on said driven shaft, at least one of which has tapered rollers, and a spacer between said bearings easily removable from said driven shaft said tapered roller bearing lying in a plane passing through the axis of rotation of said worm.

8. In a gear train, the combination with a driving shaft, of a driven shaft, a worm on said driving shaft, a worm gear on said driven shaft,

and means adapted to permit disengagement of said worm and worm gear by removal of said worm gear while said worm driving shaft and driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions, said means comprising a pair of spaced roller bearings for mounting said worm gear on said driven shaft, at least one of which has tapered rollers, and a spacer between said bearings easily removable from said driven shaft.

9. In a mining machine, the combination with a motor, of a driving shaft driven by said motor, a driven shaft, means for effecting a driving connection between said driving shaft and said driven shaft comprising a worm on said driving shaft, a worm gear mounted for free rotation on said driven shaft, clutch means attached to said worm gear, a clutch plate carrying co-operating means and splined on said driven shaft, means for engaging and disengaging said means to effect a driving connection between said worm gear and said driven shaft, and means adapted to permit disengagement of said worm and worm gear by removal of said worm gear, while said Worm driving shaft and driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions, said means comprising a tapered roller bearing positioned between said worm gear and said driven shaft, and lying in a plane passing through the axis of rotation of said worm.

10. In a mining machine, the combination with a motor, of a driving shaft driven by said motor,

a driven shaft, means for effecting a driving connection between said driving shaft and said driven shaft comprising a worm on said driving shaft, a worm gear mounted for free rotation on said driven shaft, clutch means attached to said worm gear, a clutch plate carrying co-operating means and splined on said driven shaft, meansv g a motor, of a driving shaft driven by said motor,

a driven shaft, means for effecting a driving connection between said driving shaft and said driven shaft comprising a worm on said driving shaft, a worm gear mounted for free rotation on said driven shaft, clutch means attached to said worm gear, a clutch plate carrying 'co-operating means and splined on said driven shaft, means for engaging and disengaging said means to effect a driving connection between said worm gear and said driven shaft, and means adapted to permit disengagement of said worm and worm gear by removal of said worm gear, while said worm driving shaft and driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions.

12. In a gear train, the combination with a driving shaft, of a driven shaft, a worm on'said driving shaft, a worm gear on said driven shaft, and means comprising a tapered bearing positioned between said driven shaft and said worm gear and constructed and arranged to permit movement of said worm gear laterally of said worm thereby to provide for removal of said worm gear while both said Worm and said driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions.

13. In a gear train, the combination with a driving shaft, of a driven shaft, a worm on said driving shaft, a worm gear on said driven shaft, and. means comprising an antifriction bearing positioned between said driven shaft and said Worm gear and constructed and .arranged to provide for removal of said worm gear While both said worm and said driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions.

14. In a gear train, the combination with a worm, of a worm gear in mesh therewith, supporting means for said worm gear, a tapered roller bearing mounted on said supporting means, means supporting said worm for rotation, and means, including said tapered roller bearing, constructed and arranged to provide for the removal of said worm gear while said worm and said worm gear supporting means remain in their normal operating positions.

15. In a gear train, the combination with a rigid worm, of a rigid gear having a continuous rim carrying concave teeth meshing with said Worm, supporting means for said worm gear, a tapered roller bearing mounted on said supporting means, means supporting said worm for rtation, and means including said tapered roller bearing, constructed and arranged to provide for the removal of said worm gear while said worm and said worm gear supporting means remain in their normal operating positions.

16. In a mining machine, the combination with a motor, of a drive shaft driven thereby, feeding mechanism including a gear train connected to said drive shaft, comprising a rigid worm on said drive shaft having teeth thereon, a rigid concave gear having a continuous rim and having teeth meshing with said Worm teeth, a driven shaft connected to said worm gear, and mechanism constructed and arranged to permit disengagement of said Worm gear and said worm while both said worm and said driven shaft re-' main in their normal operating positions.

17. In a gear train, the combination with a driving shaft, of a driven shaft, a rigid worm on said driving shaft having teeth thereon, a rigid concave worm gear on said driven shaft having a continuous rim and havingteeth meshing with said worm teeth, and mechanism constructed and arranged to permit disengagement of said Worm and worm gear by removal of said worm gear while both said worm and said driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions.

18. In a gear train, the combination with a driving shaft, of a driven shaft, a rigid Worm on said driving shaft having teeth, a rigid worm gear on said driven shaft having a continuous rim and having teeth meshing with said worm teeth, and means constructed and arranged to permit movement of said worm gear laterally of said worm thereby to provide for removal of said worm gear while both said worm and said driven shaft remain in their normal operating positions.

19. In a gear train, the combination with a rigid worm having teeth, of a rigid concave worm gear having a continuous rim and having teeth meshing with said worm teeth, means for mounting said worm and worm gear for rotation with the teeth thereof in mesh, and mechanism having a tapered surface constructed and arranged to provide for lateral movement of said Worm gear to disengage it from said worm while said worm and said mounting means remainin their normal operating positions.

EDWARD H. STEIN. 

